As July in Charlottesville approaches, its heavy heat sends hordes of sweaty students and townies alike in search of quick, delicious relief.
But going for ice cream in Charlottesville refers to more than the purchase and consumption of a simple scoop of vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry.
The careful ice cream eater will take into account atmosphere, location and, most importantly, taste.
Ben & Jerry's, located in the Barracks Road Shopping Center, is a Vermont-based chain famous for their unique frozen combinations.
The store's cheerful confines reflect the fun-loving personality of its original owners, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. Colorful bubble letters and cow paraphernalia create the illusion of standing in line in a comic book.
According to Ian, a Ben & Jerry's employee, name recognition helps fuel the store's popularity. "People come because they know B & J's is chock full of stuff," he said.
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The extensive menu offers unadulterated chocolate and vanilla in addition to eclectic jumbles such as "Phish Food," a mash of fudge fish, caramel, chocolate ice cream and a marshmallow ribbon.
Ben & Jerry's' topping selection is limited, partially because the chain chooses to use only all natural ingredients in all of its products, but there is no shortage of candy in the ice cream. The unmatched variety of flavors comes at a price, however-a regular dip (2 scoops) in a cup or cone costs $2.60. Fortunately for Ben & Jerry's, the majority of their clientele consists of children and their middle aged parents who are willing to shell out for the relatively hefty price per scoop.
Kohr Bros. Frozen Custard, found both on 29 across from Lowe's and in a little booth in Fashion Square Mall, offers a completely different species of ice cream.
Their soft custard, touted in their brochure as having "the taste of ice cream with the calories of yogurt," is a creamy blend of milk, cream, sugar and eggs that packs a comparitively scant 6 grams of fat per half cup serving.
Also a mecca for little kids and their families, Kohr Bros. boasts an in-store merry-go-round and sticks to the basic flavors. Chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter and orange sherbet are permanent staples, and a "specialty" flavor changes seasonally. According to Juli, a Kohr Bros employee, the most popular flavor is winter's mint chocolate. "Before Christmas time, everybody starts asking for the 'blue flavor,'" she said.
In addition to cones and sundaes, Kohr Bros recently began to serve "Snowstorms," their version of the famed Dairy Queen Blizzard. Turned upside down, a Snowstorm should remain intact, or your money back.
Having "delighted six generations since 1919," Archie Kohr's custard recipe promises to delight hot, hungry Charlottesville residents for quite some time.
A regular cup or cone costs $2.55.
Chap's Homemade Gourmet Ice Cream Shoppe, a hole-in-the-wall 1950s style café on the Downtown Mall, proudly serves sandwiches, doughnuts, burgers, salads and ice cream made in house.
Oldies music lilts in the background, occasionally interrupted by the whirr of a blender or the shouts of one regular to another.
Turquoise vinyl booths line the side of the restaurant opposite the soda counter, and antique Coca-Cola signs and black and white photographs of Charlottesville nestle into every available space. Marilyn and Elvis restroom signs add a kitschy touch of nostalgia.
Chap's celebrates their 14th anniversary this year. When asked what he thought about this year's arrival of Ben & Jerry's, the manager replied, "we think they have good ice cream. The difference is that we make our flavors fresh on the premises. Right here, right now!"
One scoop at Chap's is $1.69; two scoops costs $2.69.
Despite the many options students and Charlottesville residents have at their fingertips, none of respective ice cream shops seem to feel any threat from their competitors. This may be in part because each of the stores cater to a different crowd and have different accessibilities.
Chap's location alone makes it a convenient gathering place for frequenters of the Downtown Mall and Fridays after Five audiences. Arch's location on the Corner as well as Ivy Rd. makes it a popular choice for University students. Smoothie King, Barracks Road shopping center's most recent addition, as well as the University's on-grounds Freshens offer an easily transportable treat. Focusing on convenience, rather than atmosphere, Charlottesville's primary smoothie providers cater to consumers looking for a healthy snack, or even meal, on-the-go.
Health consciousness therefore remains a factor in the ice cream eating decision. While college students and dieting adults may opt for a low-fat yogurtor fruit smoothie, the elementary school sweet-teethed crowd might prefer banana splits and hot-fudge sundaes complete with candy toppings and rainbow sprinkles.
Whatever your preference, choose carefully, gentle ice cream consumer.
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